Associate (3+ PQE) in Bristol

We are seeking to recruit an experienced Associate (ideally with 3+ years PQE) specialising in contentious construction law, to join our busy and highly regarded Construction team, based in our Bristol or Exeter office.

Your typical workload will include construction and energy related dispute work involving court litigation, adjudication, arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR relating to disputes over payment, delays, defects, professional negligence together with advice on contract management and dispute mitigation strategies. In this role you can expect plenty of variety, and you’ll typically advise on a wide range of construction projects, including commercial development, utilities, renewable energy, residential, operation/maintenance/service contracts and facilities management. The department has been involved in several reported cases in recent years.

The department works on a wide range of international, national and regional matters for private and public sector clients across multiple sectors, including energy and renewables, housing, retail and waste. Our clients range from funding institutions and large multinationals to local authorities, contractors and developers, and we are proud to work with prestigious clients which include household names and listed companies. In order to meet their needs, you can expect to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Construction department, as well as other teams such as Real Estate, Corporate, Commercial and Planning, in order to ensure that each client receives an exemplary service.

You will be working directly with clients from the outset and we will expect you to have a good level of experience of the day-to-day running of construction disputes, including experience of adjudication and the court litigation process. We will provide ongoing training and will generally support and enhance your development as a construction lawyer within a supportive and experienced team with its own specialist Senior Knowledge Lawyer.

We will expect you to be enthusiastic to expand your skills and knowledge. We pride ourselves on our ability to develop our people, and as such, you will be responsible for dealing with complex high quality, high value work and will be afforded high levels of responsibility from the outset.

With a firm grounding in contentious practice within the construction environment, you will be considered an excellent communicator with proven technical and organisational skills and a cooperative team player. You will be accustomed to being responsive and providing accessible, commercial and pragmatic advice to clients and working under pressure to meet deadlines.

With an eye for detail, you are meticulous and thorough in your work and are already accustomed to assisting with larger and more complex disputes in your current role, as well as advising clients directly on strategy and contract interpretation. Ideally you will have gained experience in most of the JCT and NEC forms of contract, as well as commonly used professional appointments from a contentious perspective. You will have experience in a variety of construction based disputes or claims and, in addition to litigation, you may have been involved in adjudications, arbitrations and expert determinations.

Our relationship with our clients is paramount. You will be able to demonstrate your ability to build strong and lasting relationships with clients and show a genuine commitment to their business needs. Being self-motivated and ambitious, you will be keen to learn more about the construction and infrastructure sector and possess the drive to help us continue to grow and develop our business. In this dynamic market, clients will be looking to you to be up to date regarding the latest policy and legal developments affecting the sector and, as such, you will need to demonstrate a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the sector and its wider implications for our clients.

In return, we will support your career progression and professional development and help you to grow your professional networks and profile and to capitalise on business development opportunities.

At Ashfords, we believe in more than just doing great work - we believe in building a great place to work. When you join us, you become part of a team where everything we do is underpinned by our four core values: Be Open, Think Team, Make a Difference and Always Grow. These values shape who we are and how we work - they guide our decisions, influence our culture, and drive the way we support our people, clients and communities.

With a clear focus on innovation, community involvement, and supporting a healthy work-life balance, we are committed to building an environment where our people can have a rewarding and meaningful career. Whilst we recognise that every career journey is unique, we will be ambitious for you, giving you the tools, trust, and opportunities to develop your career, your way.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team.

We know that our people are at the heart of everything we do and that’s why we’re committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth and work-life balance. Beyond our benefits package, you’ll be encouraged, no matter what your role or career level, to get involved in our Responsible Business programme, where you’ll support initiatives such as charity fundraising, environmental causes and our employee led diversity and inclusion groups.

Our recruitment process typically involves two stages, which are designed not only to explore your skills and experience but also to give you a real insight into what it’s like to work at Ashfords. Throughout the process, our dedicated Talent Attraction team will be here to support you every step of the way.

We believe that building a firm with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences drives innovation and strengthens our teams, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. To support your growth, we offer ongoing training and development opportunities to help you reach your full potential so even if you don’t feel you match all the requirements of the job role, we’d still love to hear from you.

At Ashfords, we’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or would like to discuss anything regarding your application, please contact us. For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Toby Tompkins, Talent Attraction Manager. Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.